Wins (Over/Under)

[texascpa]

12-0

 

[capeorange]

I prefer my fantasy world where Fran shocks all of you and gets 10 wins again. We're not used to having a coach who works as hard as Fran and demands the same from those around him.

 

[kcsu]

I'm not sure anyone knows how talented our two QBs and WR room are.

 

[upperdeck]

Seems like a bunch of effort is being put in to create a running game.to take a load off the passing game

 

[OttoinGrotto]

No reflection on Fran, but the schedule is so brutal.

We could play very well and finish 6-6.

That keeps the bowl streak alive!

 

[Archimedes]

7. We win out at home and beat Miami again.

I also think we cover against Tenny, Clemson and SMU. UConn will be closer than expected.

 

[Cusefan69]

So I am definitely liking the portal upgrades but I am still concerned about oline(to mesh), new QB to get comfortable (neither QB is McCord as he came in and that's not a knock but it is a truth and will likely take some time),run defense and youth at the corners. Specials can only get better. I think allot of things need to go really well to get above 7. Subject to change it feels closer to 5 wins. UConn and Colgate are the only 2 definite. Duke, Pitt, BC, GT, UNC are pickems. I think we need to go 4-1 from that group to get 6 wins. Not impossible but GT will be tough and while I can't stand Pitt, they have had our effin number in recent years. Once we break camp, I will chug some koolaid and make a final call probably close to 7 wins but for now I want to just hear about summer S&C and players getting better.

 

[hungrychuck]

That keeps the bowl streak alive!

I actually think that’s crucial.

Even if we were to land in Fenway. For this one year only.

 

[baggerbob]

Over. Including a win over Tennessee.

Am I biased? Always.

But assuming no major injuries in camp, I think we will look more balanced, overall. Maybe we don't have McCord, but we had some holes on our team last year that made what McCord and crew did even more impressive.

We'll be balanced and consistent. We'll be well-coached. That Tenn game is going to be our Daytona 500, right? Tenn has Georgia two weeks later and will be what's on their mind. They'll be looking at us like a tune up.

And I know it's in ATL so Tenn will have way more fans, but it's still not Knoxville.

Beat Tenn, beat UConn, beat Colgate and then that game in Death Valley is our "are we playing for the playoffs this year" game.

Is that insane? Probably. But do think the Tenn game is a push, on my life.

Defense and Special teams will be better along with Coaching. Offense may not get the yards but will score more points.
I predict 8 or 9 wins.
Depth is much better then last year, because lasts years freshman have had a year in the system.

 

[OrangeBlood]

I would love to be wrong but don’t see anything more than 7. Likely 5 or 6. Schedule is just brutal.

Big wildcard is Angelli. As we saw, good QB play masks so much. We lost a lot of talent at skill positions. Young guys have talent but asking a lot to replace Allen/Gasden/Meeks/Pena

I don’t see defense being much better. Very young and inexperienced at corner. No proven pass rusher. Not a great combo typically.


Again, hope I’m wrong. Fran was dealt a very tough hand with this schedule.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

I would love to be wrong but don’t see anything more than 7. Likely 5 or 6. Schedule is just brutal.

Big wildcard is Angelli. As we saw, good QB play masks so much. We lost a lot of talent at skill positions. Young guys have talent but asking a lot to replace Allen/Gasden/Meeks/Pena

I don’t see defense being much better on defense. Very young and inexperienced at corner. No proven pass rusher. Not a great combo typically.


Again, hope I’m wrong. Fran was dealt a very tough hand with this schedule.

I do think the defense may be less talented this upcoming season than last. The hope is EROB year two is a stronger d coordinator than EROB year one and that makes a big difference in the way the defense performs.

And of course the special teams almost have to be better.

 

[Cuseregular]

I like it but I am very concerned we are all understating the McCord impact.

Angeli is McCordesque/McCord light if you will. He’s the difference imo between a 4-8 or 5-7 year and a 8-4 or 7-5 at worst, with 9–3, or even 10–2 not out of the question. Dudes that important

 

[shu 49]

Seems like a bunch of effort is being put in to create a running game.to take a load off the passing game

As we should. Success running the ball makes every throw after easier as u know. Biggest thing to me is it takes the heart away from defenseknowing they cant stop it.

 

[Cuse12]

If we go 8-4 we end the season ranked IMO. Like 22-25. That means we beat a good ranked team I would imagine and took care of business with our “peers”

 

[SUFaninNJ]

Defense and Special teams will be better along with Coaching. Offense may not get the yards but will score more points.
I predict 8 or 9 wins.
Depth is much better then last year, because lasts years freshman have had a year in the system.

What are you basing your thought that special teams will be better? Our kicking game didn't make any improvements and we lost our punt returner.

 

[RF2044]

I think we are going to get to 6 / bowl eligibility.

Hoping for 7 or 8 wins. And that could happen, if Angeli and / or Collins is the real deal.

Won't be easy. It's not supposed to be.

And if Fran can ever have a 7 or 8 win season against this type of schedule, not only would it cement how legit he is, but I'd expect a big jump the next year. Maybe even the type of bump that catapults us into playoff territory.

 

[sufan59]

The range of possibilities is SIGNIFICANT next season. Never have seen something like this. 1-11 to 12-0 is on the table. Every week with the exception of Colgate I expect will be a battle. I do like that we put major emphasis in the portal upgrading our size in the trenches and speed in the skilled positions. I don’t think we will just get completely outclassed by any opponents size and speed which makes things interesting and why we could have a very special season if everything clicks. Same can be said for going 1-11, nothing clicks despite the size and speed. See FSU 2024.

 

[HRE Otto IV]

Honestly I would take the under.

 

[Archbold44]

The range of possibilities is SIGNIFICANT next season. Never have seen something like this. 1-11 to 12-0 is on the table. Every week with the exception of Colgate I expect will be a battle. I do like that we put major emphasis in the portal upgrading our size in the trenches and speed in the skilled positions. I don’t think we will just get completely outclassed by any opponents size and speed which makes things interesting and why we could have a very special season if everything clicks. Same can be said for going 1-11, nothing clicks despite the size and speed. See FSU 2024.

This is the disadvantage of difficult scheduling. The wheels can fall off pretty quickly. Pitt/BC/Duke/UNC/UConn/Ga Tech are all well coached teams. And we have to beat 5 of the 6 to get to a bowl.

This is why Tennessee is so important. If we punch them in the mouth and pull out a victory, suddenly we have room for a slip up in the aforementioned six games. Plus, if we are 3-0 heading into Clemson... now we are playing with house money in a game that will get lots of attention. If we even keep it close, we might move UP in the rankings at 3-1 going toe-to-toe with Clemson. Not to mention, the higher we are ranked, the better it is for Tennessee. Hmmmm... almost talking myself into the wisdom of scheduling a good SEC opponent to start the season. If we are going to have a tough OOC opponent, might as well be SEC.

If we lose to Tennessee, however, now we need to beat UConn just to get above .500. Losing to Clemson pulls us back to 2-2. And the whole season is a fight to not lose the winnable games.

 

[orangefog]

What are you basing your thought that special teams will be better? Our kicking game didn't make any improvements and we lost our punt returner.

I'm no baggerbob, but our kicking game problems started with blocking. That can be fixed easily with proper coaching.

 

[UnknownOrange]

8-4.

I am thrilled Tennessee is up first. No getting caught looking ahead, not a true road game (although it will feel like it), and a lot of question marks for them on both sides of the ball. Welcome to the national stage, Joey Aguilar.

 

[SUFaninNJ]

I'm no baggerbob, but our kicking game problems started with blocking. That can be fixed easily with proper coaching.

While that may be true, blocking wasn't really an issue at the spring game and we had multiple kickers miss kicks. Their leg strength leaves a bit to be desired as well.

 

[orangefog]

While that may be true, blocking wasn't really an issue at the spring game and we had multiple kickers miss kicks. Their leg strength leaves a bit to be desired as well.

I agree, but a kick/punt doesn't have a chance if it gets blocked. Giving the kicker/punter enough time to get it off is a huge first step. Hopefully we get improvement from existing guys or new legs to kick better.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

What are you basing your thought that special teams will be better? Our kicking game didn't make any improvements and we lost our punt returner.

I'm assuming last year was a hilariously terrible historical outlier, and if nothing else we can count on regression to the mean.

Which in this case is the right direction.

 

[GoSU96]

The X factor is the OL transfers. If they played to their highest ratings, 8 is on the table.